Abstract:
The purpose of this research is 1) to study the interchangeability of paj go and maa come in various contexts, and 2) to study the relationship between subjectivity of the verbs paj go and maa come, their interchangeability and the degree of spatial meaning. It has been found that paj go and maa come have different meanings depending on their positions and the co-occurring verbs in the sentences. When occurring as a single verb in a simple sentence, they denote actual physical movement away from and towards the speakers reference point. When preceding other verbs, they denote actual physical movement away from and movement towards the speakers reference point in order to do something and distance between events. When occurring in the position following other verbs, the verb paj go denotes spatial direction, perfective and imperfective aspect, and excessiveness, while the verb maa come denotes spatial direction, anterior in terms of perfect of result and anterior continuing. The interchangeability of paj go and maa come can be divided into 4 contexts: 1) the context where they are interchangeable and refer to the same situation but the direction of motion is reversed; 2) The context where they are interchangeable but they refer to different events; 3) the context where only paj go can be used; and 4) the context where only maa come can be used. The meaning of the verbs paj go and maa come and their interchangeability are related to Langackers conception of subjectivity (Langacker, 1985; 1991; 1999; 2006). When paj go and maa come are more grammatical, their meanings are more subjective. However, in the contexts where paj go and maa come are interchangeable and not interchangeable, it was found that they denote both physical motion along a spatial path which is less subjective and abstract motion along a non-spatial path which is more subjective.